Irresistible Magic (Crescent City Fae: Book 2)

by Deanna Chase

  She grimaced. “Sorry.”

  “Don’t worry about it. I already feel like shit. This is the perfect end to a terrible day.”

  She squeezed my hand. “You’ll be okay?”

  “I’ll live.” I took a deep breath and went into my evening torture chamber.

  I spent the next three and a half hours hooked up to electrodes while the tech measured my responses to the vamp’s proximity.

  A buzzing sounded, indicating the use of an intercom. “Ms. Rhoswen, we need to start the physical portion of the testing. Are you up for that tonight? Or would you prefer to start another day?”

  I glanced at the clock. Twenty-seven more minutes. I could leave, but then I’d only have to endure whatever they had in store for me the next night. “It’s fine to continue.”

  “Good. Cox, please move closer.”

  The vampire positioned himself next to me, his heavy vampire aura keeping me rooted to the floor. Whatever he did, I was going to be completely helpless.

  “Now, start with her hand and work your way up her arm. Let’s see what kind of reading we can get.”

  Cox sent me a reassuring smile. What did that mean? That he wouldn’t be sucking my blood any time soon? That I was reasonably safe with him? I almost laughed at that last thought. Because being beaten and battered by a vamp was really safe.

  It didn’t take long for Cox to realize his touch was leaving me black and blue. In fact, he noticed the dark bruises instantly and pulled back holding his palms upright.

  “Mr. Cox,” the researcher chided. “Do not stop until you are instructed to.”

  The vampire stared at me, his brow wrinkled in what appeared to be concern.

  I shrugged. The sooner he got on with it, the sooner we could be done. The Void wasn’t going to go easy on me. Not that I was being punished, necessarily. They just wanted their research to be as thorough as possible. And it wasn’t as if I had a choice. “Just do as they say,” I told him in as strong a voice as I could muster.

  “Run your hands from the nape of her neck and down her spine,” the administrator ordered.

  I sucked in a shallow breath. Yeah, that wouldn’t hurt at all. I tensed but turned to give him access.

  His touch on my neck caused lightbulbs to pop behind my eyes. Soon enough, darkness began to close in from the constant contact. I pressed my hands to the wall, trying to hold myself up, but when he was ordered to place both hands on the side of my head, my knees buckled and I lost the battle.

  I floated in a dream state for what seemed like an eternity. And honestly, I was glad to be there. Whatever they had Cox doing, I couldn’t feel it. But all too soon, voices crept into my awareness. My body ached with dull pain from the top of my head to the tips of my toes. I tried to sit up but couldn’t. I was trapped against something rock solid.

  “Relax. I’ve got you now.” David’s voice penetrated my haze.

  I stirred unsuccessfully and blinked rapidly, trying to focus. The harsh fluorescent light made my eyes water.

  “David?” I whispered.

  “Yeah?”

  “What happened to the testing?”

  “It’s over for the evening. I’m taking you home.”

  My vision finally cleared. I stared up into his concerned face, realizing he was carrying me through the Arcane building. “Thank you.”

  He gave me a reassuring smile. “There’s nothing to thank me for.”

  A few moments later, we were at my Jeep. He deposited me in the passenger’s side and then pulled out his phone. “What’s Talisen’s number?”

  I frowned. “Why?”

  He raised both eyebrows. “You need a healer.”

  “Oh.” I slumped down into the seat, wrapping my arms around myself. “Tal went home to California. But don’t worry about a healer. All I really need is my oak tree and some anti-inflammatory herbs.”

  He frowned. “You definitely need a healer.”

  “No, David.” I heard the panic starting to rise in my voice and did my best to tamp it down. I probably did need one, but I still wasn’t up for another healer touching me the way Tal would. “I’ll be fine. If I’m not better in the morning, I’ll go to a clinic.”

  He stood on the street, appearing to debate with himself. I got tired of waiting and shut the door.

  After a moment, he took out his phone, sent a quick text, and then climbed into the car. “Will you really?”

  “What? Go to a clinic in the morning?”

  “Yeah.”

  I let out a small laugh. “Probably not.”

  He started the car and carefully pulled away from the curb. “That’s what I thought.”

  Ten minutes later, David parked in front of my house and before I could raise my arm to grab the handle, he’d already made it to my side of the car and was pulling the door open.

  “Thank you,” I said again and let him wrap a strong arm around me.

  “There’s no need to thank me every time I do something for you,” he said softly.

  “Okay.” Muscles I never knew existed complained with each step and as hard as I tried not to wince, I couldn’t stop the reflex. David moved slowly, not rushing me, but when we got to the porch and it became obvious I wasn’t going to be making it up the stairs without some serious help, he pulled me into his arms again.

  “David, let me down. I can do this.” I swatted at his arm.

  “In a minute.” He strode onto the porch, deftly opened the door, and had me upstairs before I could protest further. Once inside my room, he gently lowered me to my feet, but I had the suspicion he’d only done that because my bed was too high off the ground for him to put me in it himself. He ran his thumb ever so lightly over my cheek.

  I averted my eyes. He was being so gentle. So caring. It was what I expected from Tal…who wasn’t here. The loss of him made my breath hitch.

  “Wil?”

  “Hmm?”

  “You’re going to be okay.” He gave me a gentle kiss on the top of my head and turned to go.

  A yelp, followed by a high-pitched whine, came from across the room. I clutched the edge of my bed and spotted Link under the window, the drapery cords caught around his cone. “Oh my God, Link. How did you do that?” I fluttered toward him, but David beat me to it.

  Link started growling and snapping, but with his cone, he couldn’t reach David.

  “Calm down, boy. I’m going to get you free. That’s it. Almost there.” David methodically untangled the cord, working Link free of this makeshift noose. Holy cow. How long had he been mixed up in that mess? I shuddered, terrified of what could’ve happened to him.

  As soon as David had him free, Link scurried over to the edge of the bed and leaped onto the old-fashioned elevator I’d gotten just for him. It creaked and groaned. I still needed to oil that darn thing. When it stopped, he jumped and stumbled due to the unwieldy nature of the cone, tumbling with an ungraceful flop onto the edge of the bed. I thrust my wings and settled beside him, scooping him into a tight hug.

  “Thanks,” I said, my heart beating with gratitude.

  “Don’t mention it.” He turned to leave.

  “David?”

  He paused inside the doorway and glanced back at me. “You’re not going to thank me again, are you?” A smile tugged at his lips.

  I smiled back. “No. I just wondered how you’re going to get home since your car is at the Arcane building.”

  “Harrison is picking me up. Now get into bed and let the oak work its magic.” His boots hitting the wood stairs echoed through the silent house.

  The emptiness in my heart intensified. It’s not that I wanted David to stay…okay, maybe I did, a tiny bit. But the truth was I craved Talisen. In the short time he’d been in New Orleans, I’d come to rely on his easy friendship and the fact that he’d always been by my side…except now he wasn’t. And it hurt more than I’d ever dreamed. It’s exactly what I’d been afraid of when we’d decided to start dating. Not only had I lost my boyfriend, bu
t I’d lost my best friend as well.

  Downstairs the door creaked open, and light footsteps sounded on the stairs again. My heart beat faster, praying it was Tal. That he’d changed his mind. But deep down, I knew it must be Phoebe. I sighed, scooted against the trunk of the oak, and closed my eyes, grateful for the trickle of life slowly fortifying my body.

  The footsteps stopped near my door. “Phoebs, if you love me at all, you’ll get me a cup of hot tea.”

  “How about some healing balm?”

  My eyes flew open. “Mom?”

  “Hi, baby.” She fluttered her ice-blue wings and landed softly on the edge of the bed, holding a white plastic jar.

  I reached over and hugged her fiercely, the heartache consuming me fading a tiny bit. “What are you doing here?”

  “Taking care of you.” She unscrewed the lid of the jar. With two fingers she scooped out some gel and started smearing it on my bruised arm.

  Sweet relief rushed through me. “How did you—”

  “David texted me. He didn’t want you to be alone.”

  Whoa. That was thoughtful. But then he always had been, except when he was dumping me to turn vamp. Would I ever get over that? It’s not like he didn’t have a good reason.

  “I’m sorry about Talisen,” Mom said softly. “I heard he went home today.”

  I only nodded. What was there to say?

  Mom squeezed my hand. “He’ll come around.”

  Frowning, I glanced away. I wasn’t at all sure he would. It was classic Talisen to walk away when things became too complicated, and that’s exactly what he’d done. Mom moved to my other arm. The gel wasn’t doing much for the bruising, but it was taking the pain away and that was good enough for now. “I thought you were supposed to be hiding out with Allcot?”

  “I was.” She peeled back my covers and coated my bare calves. “One of Eadric’s contacts spotted Asher at the airport. He got on a plane headed to Argentina. Eadric had someone follow him. Asher is now in Rio. And as far as anyone can tell, all his people have been apprehended. Everyone is safe for now.”

  A weight seemed to lift off my heart. Safe for now. “Does that mean life will be back to normal for a while?”

  “That’s what it looks like.”

  I stared up at the lush green leaves of my oak. “You’ve been here almost a week. When do you have to go back?” There was a tremor in my voice I couldn’t quite ignore.

  Mom reached over and smoothed a lock of hair behind my ear. “Not until I’m sure you’re okay, sweetie.”

  The unexpected tenderness in her tone made my eyes well with tears. “I’ve missed you,” I choked out.

  Mom chuckled. “You spent the summer with me. You can’t miss me that much.”

  I caught her worried gaze and wondered if she was thinking of my physical or mental state. “I meant I miss this interaction. This honesty. It seems…Well, since Beau, it’s been too hard to talk.”

  Mom’s eyes misted and she pulled me into a gentle hug. “You’re right, baby. It has been hard. But I’m here for you for as long as you need. I can stay. I just have to make a few arrangements back home.”

  She’d have to get someone to run her nursery. And we both knew that person was likely Talisen. He’d do it, no matter how upset he was with me. “Just for a little while?”

  “However long it takes,” Mom said. “I’ll make the arrangements tomorrow.”

  Chapter 30

  By three o’clock the next day, I was exhausted. I pushed up my long sleeves, no longer caring if any of my employees noticed my bruises, and stood next to the air-conditioner vent in my office. Between the healing ointment and my oak, the pain had all but vanished, but my bruises hadn’t gone anywhere.

  Link raised his head from his place on the floor and let out a low whine.

  “I know, buddy.” He was still stuck with the cone of shame. “If you wouldn’t chew on your stitches, I could let you out of that thing.”

  He lowered his head, the cone resting between his paws.

  I sat down next to him. “Aren’t we a pathetic pair?”

  He stared up at me with his amber puppy-dog eyes. His silky hair slipped through my fingers as I pet him.

  I was getting ready to head back to my lab when my phone buzzed with a text message. I’d been careful to keep it charged just in case I heard from Talisen. I grabbed the phone and my heart skipped a beat. It was from Tal.

  I’m sorry.

  How was I supposed to answer that? And what exactly was he sorry for? Leaving? Hurting me? Or that our short-lived romance hadn’t worked out?

  I stared at the readout for a long moment, then typed Me, too.

  The minutes ticked by. No response. After a half hour passed, I scowled in disgust. I’m sorry? That was it? I wasn’t doing the text message thing again. I’d had my fill after the Dear Jane text I’d gotten from David last spring. In total frustration, I touched Tal’s number and waited for him to pick up.

  Voice mail. Dammit.

  I sucked in a breath. “Tal, it’s Willow. Although I was glad to get your text, I think we need to talk. Please call when you’re ready.” I hit End and slumped down.

  At the mention of Tal’s name, Link lifted his head and was now looking at me expectantly.

  “Sorry, dude. He abandoned us both.”

  The office started to close in around me. My chest started to burn as if I couldn’t get enough oxygen. The message from Tal had only reopened the wound I’d been nursing since the day he’d left. Silence would’ve been less cruel. “We’ve gotta go.” I grabbed Link and without letting Tami know, we burst out of my private entrance.

  Ten minutes later, we were curled up in my bed under the oak. I took Link’s cone off, and clutching my silent phone, I snuggled against his small body. Sadness overwhelmed me, but my eyes stayed dry. All I felt was a sense of loneliness and despair. Tal wasn’t coming back. He couldn’t even bring himself to talk to me. And even if he did, I wasn’t sure I could forgive the fact that he’d run after everything that had happened. He hadn’t even given me a chance to explain. There was no way I would’ve left him. Our relationship had ended before it had really even started. The worst part, the part that made my heart hurt the most, was that he was my best friend. And I was positive I’d just lost him.

  Link pressed his little body closer to mine. I buried my face in his silky fur and closed my eyes. I focused on the darkness and prayed for oblivion. It wasn’t long before I was pulled under.

  ***

  “Willow?”

  “Hmm?” I rolled over, wincing at the ache in my crooked neck. Link shifted and he vibrated with a low growl.

  “It’s time to go. We have to be at the Arcane in less than fifteen minutes.”

  I placed a hand on Link. “Shh, it’s okay, Link. It’s just David.” David? What was he doing here? I jerked up into a sitting position and rubbed the sleep from my eyes. “What’s going on? How…? I mean why…?”

  David grinned at me. “You’re really out of it.”

  “I was asleep.”

  “I can see that.” He held out a hand. “Let me help you down.”

  Tentatively, I took his hand. “What are you doing here?”

  “Picking you up.” He pulled me into his arms. “After yesterday, I figured it would be easier if I drove you. That way you won’t have to worry about driving home, no matter what tests they run.” He set me down on my feet and I felt myself smile.

  “That was thoughtful.”

  His midnight-blue eyes softened, but he didn’t say anything.

  I glanced at the clock. “Give me five minutes to get Link situated and I’ll be right down.”

  David nodded and retreated down the stairs. How had he gotten in? If Phoebe was home, she would’ve come to wake me up. I decided it didn’t matter. I trusted David and his presence seemed to fill the emptiness inside me.

  “Just a few more days,” I told Link as I fastened the cone around his head. “Then your tail will be all
fixed up.” He whimpered and curled up at the foot of the oak tree.

  He looked so pathetic I picked him up and flew him to the bed. Then I pushed the button so the makeshift elevator was ready should he need to climb down. I kissed his neck and promised I’d be home soon. Downstairs, David was waiting for me near the front door.

  “Thank you,” I said.

  “Anytime.” His eyes lit with humor and my cheeks warmed. If he didn’t stop doing nice things for me, I was going to owe him my firstborn.

  ***

  Over the next two weeks, we fell into the same pattern. I worked in the morning at The Fated Cupcake, came home to take a nap, and then went with David to the Arcane building. Every night I came home bruised, pricked, and utterly battered. The first week Mom had come to check on me each night, bringing the magic ointment. Between the hibiscus cupcakes I’d concocted and the ointment, I was healing well enough. A certified healer still would’ve been much faster and far more efficient, but my routine was working for me.

  Except for the night the Void decided it was time to test what would happen if a vampire fed from me. In my weakened condition, I hadn’t lasted more than a few moments once the vampire broke skin. I’d passed out almost immediately.

  This particular night, David had been scheduled to feed right after the other vamp, so he’d been in the room. And when I woke up, I’d never heard him sound so angry.

  “Look at what you’re doing to her,” he said, seething. “Do you ever deem it necessary to check on her health?”

  “David,” I said weakly, holding a palm to my neck. Blood was trickling down my neck from Zac’s bite.

  He wrapped his arm over my shoulders and pulled me close. “What do you need?”

  “Sleep.” I hadn’t had a decent night’s sleep in over two weeks. Not since before we’d started the testing.

  “Then let’s go.” He tugged me toward the door, despite the fact we still had two hours scheduled that evening.

  “Mr. Laveaux, may I remind you of the contract?” the director said.

  “You can remind me of anything you damned well please. But nothing is going to stop me from taking her to bed.”